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Supplement to The Bird Observer June 2007: for all MELBOCA members
MELBOCA Branch Meetings
Meetings are held at the Evergreen Centre, 45 Talbot
Avenue, Balwyn, not far from the Balwyn Library,
Melway 46 E8, on the fourth Tuesday of each month
(with the exception of December) commencing at
8.00 pm. Entry is by a donation of $4.
Out-of-town members & visitors very welcome.
Future Speakers Tuesday 26 June 2007 8pm. Robert Bender,
“Waterbirds of the Coorong”. Robert spends much of
his spare time doing volunteer conservation work with
Friends of Organ Pipes, with Friends of Wilson Reserve,
doing long-term research on bat roost boxes, with
Frogwatch, and with fungi-mapping. He is also keenly
interested in Earthwatch projects and has studied
palaeobotany, Echidnas, Platypus, Hawksbill Turtles
and other fascinating subjects such as Orang-utans,
insects and bats, so we are in for an interesting
evening when Robert speaks about work with the
waterbirds of the Coorong in SA.
Instead of Bird of the Evening, the MELBOCA AGM will
be held at 8.00 pm prior to the Guest Speaker.
Tuesday 24 July 2007 8.00 pm. Ken Simpson “Rare
Penguins in Australia”. Ken Simpson, long-time BOCA
and MELBOCA member, top-notch birder, author of
field guides and many bird-related articles, speaker,
and all-round nice guy, needs no further introduction,
so you will need to be early to get a good seat for
what will be a very special July meeting.
MELBOCA Committee President: Graeme Hosken
Vice-President: David Plant
Secretary: Janet Hand
Treasurer: Bill Ramsay
Celia Browne Barb Longmuir
Linda Stock Diane Tweeddale
MELBOCA Contact: Graeme Hosken
Tel: 9802 5250
Email: [email protected]
C/o BOCA National Office
PO Box 185, Nunawading Vic 3131
Past Meetings 27 March 2007. Linda Stock introduced the evening,
welcoming all and introduced Dr Xenia Dennett who
gave the Bird of the Evening segment, “Rabbit
Eradication on Macquarie Island”. Macquarie Island is
about half way between Australia and Antarctica
and comprises a unique geological land mass 35 x 6
km. It lies just north of the Antarctic Convergence
where the cold and very cold waters meet, making a
very fertile marine environment. It became a Wildlife
Sanctuary in 1933, a Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO
and now is World Heritage listed. The geological
uniqueness is due to magma having been squeezed
upwards between two moving plates, not ejected
volcanically, and giving insight into the deepest rocks
on Earth. The island has also never been glaciated
and has many areas of pillow basalt. It is still emerging
and because of the frost erosion, the surface is
extremely fragile, thus any degradation due to animal
(rabbit) action is likely to have devastating effects on
the ecosystem.
THE
MELBIMELBI RDIANRDIAN MELBOCA (BOCA’s Melbourne Branch) NEWSLETTER NO. 55 June 2007
2
There are 72 species of birds present, of which 29
species breed on the island, which is also home to
unique plants and marine mammals. Four million
seabirds, including four species of albatross and
penguin live there. The Royal Penguin only breeds on
the island. The rabbits are having a devastating
impact on the landscape, causing the breakdown of
vegetation especially the Macquarie Island Cabbage
and allowing erosion and land slips by rainfall. Early
settlers introduced goats, horses, Wekas, cats, rabbits,
rats and mice. The last three are still present. As
regards the rabbits, at first the myxomatosis virus was
effective but is no longer so. The calici virus is useless in
a cold and wet envrironment so now there are
estimated to be 180,000 rabbits present. Apart from
the damage to the vegetation, the burrowing
exposes burrowing birds to predators. The poa
tussocks that the Wandering Albatross rely on for
nesting sites are also degraded. Thus it is essential to
exterminate the rabbits, rats and mice. A Pest
Management Plan by the Tasmanian and Federal
Governments has been researched but requires
considerable funding (in excess of $15 billion) and a
definite commitment by these Governments to solve
this problem.
The World Wildlife Fund is appealing for your action
and more information is available from
wwf.org.au or via email [email protected]
The Guest Speaker this evening was Ken Gosbell, a
retired Civil Engineer and active member of the
Victorian Wader Study Group who has been catching
and banding migratory waders in Victoria and other
states and following their progress world wide. Ken
entitled his talk, “Following our Migratory Shorebirds to
the Kamchatka Peninsula. This peninsula lies in far
north-east Russia, north of Japan.
With the assistance of a very photogenic and
informative powerpoint display, Ken stated that many
of these birds make an annual return journey of 13-
14,000 km. Birds such as Eastern Curlew, Red-necked
Stint and various plovers, which ply between Australia
and the far NE reaches of Russia. He showed a very
up-to-date map of the pathways, especially some
Bar-tailed Godwits which have been fitted with
tracking devices and whose progress may be
followed by courtesy of Google Earth on
www.werc.usgs.gov/sattrack/shorebirds/overall.html.
During this migratory flight the 2 million waders from
Australia and New Zealand have to refuel, mainly in
the Yellow Sea area off Japan and Korea. It is these
areas that are under threat from natural predators,
hunting, the changed weather patterns due to global
warming and habitat change due to human
intervention (see Ken’s Bird of the Evening on the
Saemangeum project in Korea in The Melbirdian April
2007, Meeting of 23 January Report). It is the intention
to return to Saemangeum later this year to gather
further information for the Ramsar seminar in 2008.
In 2004 Ken, along with an international party from
Russia, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and England,
traveled to the Moroschechnaya Estuary on the
Kamchatka Peninsula to document the southward
migration of the shorebirds, along with banding and
leg-flagging to enable tracking to take place. The
Peninsula is a very wild and remote place with only
one town of any size, Petropavlovsk, from which a bus
trip was taken 500 km northwards to Esso in order to
connect with a helicopter—the only method of
transport to the Moroschechnaya Estuary, over some
very wild ‘tiger country’, definitely not the place for a
forced landing! The party was left for 15 days in this
remote area (after first emphsising the necessity for
the helicopter to return on time). Two of the
inhabitants of this remote area were the Stellar Sea-
Eagle and Brown Bear, the former not seen and the
latter only in the distance (thankfully).
The shorebirds were surveyed every two days—every
bird—including Black-headed Gull, Dunlin, Red-
necked Stint, Terek Sandpiper and many Bar-tailed
Godwits. Counts were taken as the tide went out
exposing the vast mud flats for up to four hours. Ken
showed some pictures of the lovely Tundra flowers
and berries, the Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwit
feasting on these. The Russian hunter who was
attached to the party to prevent attack from Brown
Bears, indulged in some welcome salmon fishing to
supplement the food supply. Mist-netting was
employed in order to be able to take biometric
measurements and samples for DNA testing on the
Dunlins. Spoon-billed Sandpipers and passerines such
as Yellow Wagtail and Siberian Rubythroat were also
seen. Ken said Bar-tailed Godwits appeared to be
getting ready to migrate south. Samples were also
taken for evidence of Avian influenza amongst the
bird population but fortunately, after testing back in
3
Australia, none was detected. During the time on site
the Russian members of the party were given
assistance in the methods employed for this research.
A great deal more research is needed as only a small
area of the Kamchatka Peninsula could be included
at this time and it is believed that between 1-2 million
birds migrate southward via the sea of Okhotsk. The
length of the stopover is estimated to be only 2-10
days for the Dunlin--the DNA samples showed these to
be a Sakhalin subspecies.
All this work is very expensive due to the remoteness of
the terrain. The Russian economy does not support this
sort of expense and therefore international support is
the only way further research can be enabled. Upon
questioning Ken after the talk, he said that one of the
problems is the interest being taken in the area by the
“hunting, shooting and fishing members of the USA”
who can afford to pay the Russian officials a
considerable amount of money to allow them to
come over to hunt Brown Bears and return to the USA
with their trophies. Partaking in a genuine survey
would be a great opportunity for the adventurous.
Many thanks to Ken and Xenia for their talks on the far
away places of this world.
Linda gave a short resumé of the Labour Day Camp
at Clarkesdale at which 74 species were seen in the
Sanctuary area with 82 species for the wider camp
area. The actual number of birds was well down, no
doubt due to the dry conditions. Thanks are due to
David and Sue Ap-Thomas and David Coutts, the
Manager, for the successful running of this enjoyable
camp. The old cottage at Clarkesdale is now semi-
derelict, due to the attention of termites. The plan to
erect a large shed encompassing accommodation
and a learning/environment area has proved too
expensive at $100,000. However, there have been
some very generous donations made and the $70,000
raised is to be used in the erection of a smaller
building by apprentices from the Ballarat School of
Mines, to house an education area, with shower,
kitchen and toilets accessible to outside campers. This
project is being drawn up at present and I gather the
site is to be just south of the existing cottage.
Notice was given of the AGM of MELBOCA to take
place on 26 June 2007, details of which are enclosed.
After the Interesting Sightings by Graeme Hosken,
details of future outings and recent information
regarding the “Bird of Prey—the Derby Cathedral
Peregrines”,
see http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.com, the
evening was rounded off by refreshments and
general socialisation.
Linda Stock
24 April 2007. Two new members were welcomed to
the meeting by our Chairperson for the evening, Bill
Ramsay. Bird of the Evening. This was filled by the
showing of a DVD on Mornington Station in the
Kimberley (BOCA has an organised tour there in July
which is booked out). Mornington Station is in the
heart of the Kimberley and covers 3000 square km. In
2001 Australian Widlife Conservancy purchased the
property. Plans did exist to dam the Fitzroy River but
this would have flooded much of the area. 180
species of birds have been recorded on the property
including Purple-crowned Fairy-wren, Australian
Bustard and Gouldian Finch. Fire and cattle grazing
have caused the most damage to the environment
but AWC are now working with the traditional owners
of the land to improve the habitat. Tax-deductible
donations and visitors are most welcome. You can
camp in their up-market tents or bring your own, but
they need our help to save the endangered species
and reverse the diminishing numbers of many other
species.
Guest Speaker, Dr Xenia Dennett gave a very
informative presentation entitled, “The BOCA Western
Port Survey—an ongoing 35 year survey”. BOCA’s
Western Port Survey was started in 1973 and is
believed to be the longest running bird survey in
Australia. Western Port is east of Port Phillip Bay and
contains two large islands, has two tides daily,
extensive mudflats, with some mangrove edges,
farmland and several industrial complexes. The various
sea grass or eel grass beds within Western Port attract
many species of birds. Surveys are currently done in
February, June and November at high tide roosts,
although originally they were carried out monthly.
Western Port is now a designated Ramsar site, part of
the East Asian – Australasian Flyway and a Biosphere
Reserve. Eastern Curlew, Common Greenshank,
Curlew Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Double-banded
and Hooded Plovers and Pied Oystercatchers are all
significant species under the Ramsar Convention.
Xenia showed graphs of many species to indicate the
seasonal rise and fall of species numbers and their
overall trends during the 30 plus years. Eastern Curlew
numbers are dropping but Grey-tailed Tattlers have
4
decreased dramatically with only a few being seen
recently. Xenia thanked the 200 plus volunteers, and
the coordinators and asked for more help. While there
are some 20 sites covered on each survey, there are
another nine which could be surveyed with more
volunteers.
Howard Plowright gave us a special presentation of
“Bird Calls of Mallacoota” which was recorded while
working on the 10 part Field Guide to Australian
Birdsong. We listened enthralled as Fairy Terns
chattered away, Glossy Black-Cockatoos cracked
cones before calling loudly, a White-bellied Sea-Eagle
screamed as a falcon attacked it and finally an
Australian Magpie warbled away just outside the
cottage where they were staying.
Janet Hand
The C5 Plantation at Banyule Flats—an update Two years on and the Plantation is looking great! Most
of the plants, especially the River Red Gums
Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Swamp Gums Eucalyptus
ovata and Blackwoods Acacia melanoxylon are
doing really well. You’d never know there has been a
drought; the plantation has benefited greatly from the
proximity of the creek and the hand watering and
weeding carried out in the first year. Many
birdsCrimson Rosella, Eastern Rosella, Red
Wattlebird, Grey Fantail, thornbills, Black-faced
Cuckoo-shrike—are using the corridor between the
wetlands and the Yarra.
Replacement trees were planted during the winter of
2006 to replace some which had died and, as the
trees grow, labels are being moved from the wire
‘cages’ onto the trees themselves where they are
placed at head height so they can be easily found
over the coming years.
You are encouraged to visit the C5 site at Banyule
Flats to enjoy the difference we have made to this
important area.
Celia M Browne
Weekdays Outings Notes 12 December 2006 Karkarook Park (not printed earlier
due to lack of space). Again we were fortunate with
the weather when we assembled in the carpark at
Karkarook. The day was clear with a light southerly
blowing which cooled us in the sunshine. The group
comprised 30 people as we set off after hearing a
short history of the site from Ian Parsons who has been
involved with the park since the planning stages. The
area had certainly come a long way from the night
soil depository, horse paddock and sand mine of its
previous incarnations. We started our walk around the
lake but didn’t progress very far before the sightings
became riveting. After the Noisy Miners in the carpark
area no one expected that the first body of water
would yield such interest. There were Eurasian Coots
feeding young, but the cry, “Baillon’s Crake” had
everyone scouring the far bank of the lake until most
had glimpsed this elusive species. Then a Buff-banded
Rail was sighted by many, though not all. While we
swept glasses across the far side of the water, a Little
Pied Cormorant was spotted with a prey item in its bill.
Was it a fish, a frog? No, it was identified as a baby
tortoise. Our sympathy went out to the youngster but
we watched as the Cormorant determinedly shook
and repositioned the tortoise until it was able to
swallow its prey. Rough on the tortoise, and possibly
the start of an attack of indigestion for the Cormorant.
The park has not been in existence beyond a decade
but the birds have certainly discovered it as reliable
habitat. Silver Gulls had been the dominant species in
the beginning but, though they are still present in
large numbers, other species have arrived and
appear to be holding their own. Eurasian Coot is
probably the most numerous species of waterbird
currently, but a colony of Hardhead and many Pacific
Black Ducks, Grey and Chestnut Teals are also
present. Black Swan, Australian Pelican and Australian
White Ibis are also regularly seen. Blue-billed Duck
(male and female) are using the smaller lakes and
Pink-eared Duck and Australasian Shoveler were also
present. Purple Swamphen and Dusky Moorhen were
nesting and had young, while Australasian Grebe
used the small lakes and Hoary-headed Grebe was
seen on both the large bodies of water and the small
ones.
Several people expressed an affection for the Black-
winged Stilts which were foraging on the mud flats—
they are striking birds and their calls as they fly over
the water, raise smiles for many watchers. The
mudflats must be productive, though small in area, as
both Red-kneed and Black-fronted Dotterels were
feeding with the Stilts and several Magpie-larks. We
were astonished to observe a Baillon’s Crake come
out on the mudflats and forage in full view for a
couple of minutes before it retreated behind the
5
vegetation. The sun behind us and no plants meant
that clear views were enjoyed by many.
Superb Fairy-wrens and Clamorous Reed-Warblers
were frequently heard and occasionally seen as they
moved among the grasses and reeds. The absence of
mature trees with nectar-producing flowers meant
that there were few honeyeaters beyond the Noisy
Miners near the trees of the carpark. However a few
Red Wattlebirds and White-plumed Honeyeaters
indicated the potential of the site once the plantings
have grown. Some saw a Golden-headed Cisticola
on the waterside grasses and others heard a Little
Grassbird calling plaintively while a Skylark was heard
by still others in the group. Some had seen Latham’s
Snipe before lunch but many had missed that sighting
and they were pleased when another bird flushed
during the afternoon walk. It will be interesting to see
how the bird list for the area changes with time. At the
end of the day there were smiles all round and the list
was 53 species, which is a very creditable total for
such a new area.
Baillon’s Crake photographed by Duncan Turnbull at
Numurkah Nov 2006
6 March 2007 Point Cook Coastal Park. The carpark for
Spectacle Lake bird hide was our rendezvous point
and the group totalled t26 when we were all
assembled under the leadership of Graeme Hosken.
The plan was to walk to the bird hide, but the
appearance of a raptor perched in the top of a dead
tree promptly modified this. Instead we took
advantage of the dry ground to approach more
closely and identify it as a young Brown Falcon. It was
joined by another, much darker bird which was also
an immature Brown Falcon and we were extremely
interested to compare the colouration. Circling back
around the lake bed we encountered several rabbits
and two foxes. There was no moisture in the lake
edges and rabbit scat and dust were underfoot as we
proceeded. Several Richard’s Pipits were foraging on
the far side of the lake but their presence rather
served to emphasise the paucity of birds. The nesting
boxes on posts at the lake edge were a sign of wetter
times. However, the lignum was flowering and
promised to remain as habitat for small birds.
We drove in convoy to RAAF Lake where recent rain
seemed to have left a small sheet of water. The lake
bed was white with salt beyond the water and no
birds were using the area. Australian Magpie and
Straw-necked Ibis foraged in the grass nearby and
New Holland Honeyeaters were flying among the
trees in the carpark. In the distance there seemed to
be a group of waders so we walked closer to find a
collection of small, wader-sized stones at the lake
edge. However, our disappointment was reversed
when a Little Eagle soared low across and gave
excellent views of its markings and conformation.
Driving to the picnic area carpark, we found that the
dense vegetation here was habitat for numbers of
species. Willie Wagtails were so common that they
were almost, but not quite, despised by the end of the
day. Searches for Brown Quail proved fruitless but
close views were obtained of Yellow (Little) Thornbill in
the she-oaks and tea-tree. Silvereyes were more
heard than seen and Grey Fantails foraged
acrobatically. Lunch was accompanied by Superb
Fairy-wren, Willie Wagtail, Yellow-rumped Thonbill and
Crested Pigeon. Crested Pigeons seem to be thriving
despite, or because of, the dry conditions and at least
one pair was observed in courtship mode. After lunch
we walked down to the beach but again birds were
scarce. Silver Gulls were plentiful and distant views
were had of a few Black Swans, Pacific Gull and
unidentifiable cormorants.
Next we drove to the Cheetham Wetlands where
Skylark was heard and seen by a few. Then we were
all excited by the sight of Brown Quail which flushed
and provided quite extensive views before they
descended into the heath. We walked out to the
tower and from that vantage point we were able to
train scopes on the birds using the lakes and shores in
the strong wind. Mixed flocks of waders, Red-necked
Stint, Sharp-tailed and Curlew Sandpipers were
sheltering from the south-easterly wind which had
6
increased considerably since the early morning. A
hare ran along the lake edge and caused some
movement of the flock, but they quickly settled again.
A few Common Greenshanks apeared briefly in the
centre of one of the lakes but then retreated to the
quieter zone of the edge where shrubs provided
shelter. Even the Australian Shelducks and Pacific
Black Ducks preferred the less exposed area of the
lake edges. A few White-fronted Chats were seen
flying in this area. It had been surprising that they had
not been observed earlier as the coastal heath was
likely habitat. Striated Fieldwren was also listened for
and looked for but without success. However, another
raptor was a Swamp Harrier which quartered over the
paddocks near the tower as we were returning to the
cars.
Bird call at the cars resulted in a total for the day of 47
species and a vote of thanks to Graeme for leading
us in very challenging conditions which nevertheless
had several people smiling broadly over their ‘Lifer’
ticks for the day.
21 March 2007 Warburton area. The road toward
Donna Buang up from Warburton passed through
sunlit mist. The greens of the tree ferns, beeches and
eucalypts were fresh after the showers of the previous
day. We were admiring the magic of the drive when
“It’s a lyrebird”, was gasped. Slowing to a stop, we
watched and tried for photos through the windows
(not bad but somewhat distant). After he retreated
into the bush we continued, to slow and halt twice
more for the same reason. Counting the male which
moved out of the carpark as we arrived, we saw four
Superb Lyrebirds, three males and a female, within a
short stretch of road. Calls were heard as the rest of
our party assembled and later arrivals reported their
sightings on the road which included more females
than we had observed. The Lyrebird population in the
area seemed to be a rather healthy one.
Sixteen people had made the drive to the rendezvous
and we started our birdwalk under the leadership of
Bill Ramsay, assisted by his wife, Shirley. Initially we
spent time on the Rainforest Gallery Skywalk, an
excellently-designed metal walk suspended among
the lower canopy. At one point you are 15 m above
the forest floor and the close views of epiphyte-
covered beeches and more distant views through
gaps in the tree cover, are memorable. Birds in dense
forest are both hard to see and fewer in number than
in other systems, but the enjoyment of the location
more than compensated. Green immatue Crimson
Rosellas were present in small flocks. Moving back to
the road we walked carefully listening for both birds
and vehicles. The most common species was Eastern
Spinebill with numerous individuals and pairs foraging
energetically among the foliage. They included
immature birds, so the breeding season seemed to
have been successful. A chorus of frog calls halted
several people near a small spring and streamlet, but
no sightings were achieved. A couple of us collected
leeches on our clothing but they were easily shaken
off before they bit.
The road provides an edge in the forest and more
birds were seen along this walk as the cool of the
early morning dissipated. Good views of Lewin’s
Honeyeater, Crested Shrike-tit and Golden Whistler
were had by most of us. Heading back to the cars for
lunch we encountered Eastern Yellow Robin and
these trusting little birds also came out of the bush
while we were sitting. Also present at the lunch break
were a pair of Grey Shrike-thrushes and a small flock
of Brown Thornbills. A Rufous Fantail, which had clearly
not yet flown north, delighted several of us by flashing
overhead as we sat. After lunch we walked downhill
along the road for a short way, seeing a New Holland
Honeyeater which was rather unexpected in this
forest. Treecreepers had been heard all day but it was
now that we actually observed a White-throated
Treecreeper foraging up the tree trunks. Another
juvenile observed was a very young Silvereye which
was perched precariously on a roadside tree fern and
calling continuously. Some birds were only heard and
these included Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo,
Pilotbird, Crescent Honeyeater and Pied Currawong.
The only introduced species was Common Blackbird
which was heard briefly by a couple of people. The
bird list for the day totalled 23 species, but the quality
outweighed the quantity and at least one member
ticked two ‘Lifers’. Our thanks went to Bill and Shirley
for leading us on a memorable day.
Diane Tweeddale
Convenor MELBOCA Weekdays Outings
STOP PRESS. Digital Photography for Beginners 3rd
lecture “Introduction to Photo Editing” will now be
held on Thursday 12 July 2007. Still room ring BOCA
to book if you would like to attend.
7
INTERESTING SIGHTINGS Entered 25 April 2007
The following Field Reports were received from members attending the MELBOCA monthly meetings held at Balwyn on 27 March and 24 April 2007, Email and WEB reports to the BOCA National Office. The reports include currawong, corella, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Brown Thornbill, Song Thrush and Crested Pigeon sightings within 60km Melbourne, plus other Field Reports.
Currawong Sightings Pied All 2007 3-4 McEvoy St Kew 8-10 Almond St Nth Balwyn 30 Jan ’07 4 Taroona Ave Mt Waverley 05 Feb ’07 1 Sorrento 13 Feb ’07 8 Taroona Ave Mt Waverley March ’07 1-4 Franklin Crt Glen Waverley 4-12 Winters Way Doncaster 20 Mar ’07 1 Mullum Mullum Ck Res East Doncaster 21 Mar ’07 2 Sweetland Rd Box Hill 26 Mar ’07 1 Minto St East Kew 01 Apr ’07 6 Glen Iris Wetlands Glen Iris 8/16 Apr ‘07 6/1 Central Reserve Glen Waverley 11 Apr ’07 1 Andersons Ck Rd East Doncaster 14 Apr ’07 7 Wattle Park Burwood 17 Apr ’07 10 Vista St Bulleen Grey 19 Apr ’07 1 Royal Pde Parkville
Corella Sightings Long-billed Corella 20 Mar ’07 2 Mullum Mullum Ck East Doncaster 24 Mar ’07 3 Banyule Flats Heidelberg 26 Mar ’07 2 Wattle Park Burwood 09 Apr ’07 25-30 Cnr Burwood Hwy/FTG Rd Ferntree Gully 22 Apr ’07 80 Monash Fwy/Princes Hwy Dandenong Little Corella 28 Mar 200 Football Oval Montrose 03 Apr ’07 200 Deep Creek Sunbury (1st sighting of Little Corella, normally Long-billed in area) Corella Species 09 Jan ’07 5 Taroona Ave Mt Waverley 02 Mar ’07 25 Taroona Ave Mt Waverley April ’07 Ascot St East Doncaster (several heard in the evening)
Crested Pigeon Sightings Oct ’06 – Mar ’07 19-5 Edward Rd Lilydale (breeding on property) Late Nov ’06 2 Falconer Rd Park Orchards Daily ’07 10 McLeod Rd Patterson Lakes Jan-Feb ’07 3-5 Footscray Park Footscray 12 Feb ’07 3-5 Westgate Park Port Melbourne 26/28 Feb ’07 2 Koonung Ck Reserve North Balwyn 01 Mar ’07 2 Netleton Park Reserve Glen Iris 24 Mar ’07 2 Blyth St` Brunswick
8
28 Mar ’07 1 Koonung Ck Reserve North Balwyn 12 Apr ’07 1 Cherry Rd Balwyn 02 Apr ’07 2 Huntindale Rd Wetlands Mt Waverley 19 Apr ’07 12 Doris St Murrumbeena 3 Lawrence Rd Mt Waverley 20 Apr ’07 60 Zerbe’s Reserve East Doncaster
Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo Sightings 13 Jan ’07 2 Taroona Ave Mt Waverley 08 Feb ’07 4 Waverley Rd Wetlands Mt Waverley 18 Mar ’07 30+ Lysterfield Park Lysterfield 02 Apr ’07 2 Andersons Ck Rd East Doncaster 20 Apr ’07 3 Blackburn Lake Blackburn Brown Thornbill Sightings Daily ’07 3-6 Disraeli St Kew 6-10 McEvoy St Kew 2-5 Bluff St Hawthorn East 2-4 Russell St Surrey Hills 27 Feb ’07 2 Harrington Ave North Balwyn 12 Mar ’07 2 Odessa St St Kilda 6-8 Apr ’07 1 Andrew St Oakleigh Song Thrush Sightings No sightings reported this period.
Other Sightings 01 Jan –21 Mar ’07 Aust. Hobby (2) Truman St South Kingsville 12 Jan – 28 Feb ’07 New Holland Honeyeater (?) Truman St South Kingsville 25 Jan ’07 Wedge-tailed Eagle (2) Braeside Pk Braeside 25-26 Jan ’07 Powerful Owl (1juv) Cnr Raleigh & Sandra Sts Forest Hill 06 Feb ’07 Rainbow Lorikeet (Lutino 1) Standfield Dve Carrum Downs 12 Feb ’07 Australian Ringneck (1) Buena Vista Rd Montmorency 14-28 Feb ’07 Collared Sparrowhawk (4 Juv) Edinburgh Gardens North Fitzroy (birds seen daily-initial sighting from the birds calling) 12 Mar ’07 Rufous Fantail (1) Mc Lachlan St Northcote 15 Mar ’07 White-throated Needletail (30-40) Truman St South Kingsville 20 Mar ’07 Rufous Fantail (1) Back Creek Camberwell 21 Mar ’07 Silvereye (200) Odessa St St Kilda 26 Mar ’07 Noisy Friarbird (1) Banyule Flats Viewbank Noisy Friarbird (3) Wattle Park Burwood 29 Mar ’07 Peaceful Dove (1) Yarra Bend Park Fairfield 01 Apr ’07 Australian White Ibis (12) Glen Iris Wetlands Glen Iris 04 Apr ’07 Cockatiel (1) Sparkes Reserve Box Hill Sth 05 Apr ’07 Cockatiel (1) Landale St Box Hill Sth (possible escapee?) 6-8 Apr ’07 Grey Fantail (1) Andrew St Oakleigh Rainbow Lorikeet (2 with fledgling) 07 Apr ’07 Australian King Parrot (2) Mullum Ck Park East Doncaster Gang-gang Cockatoo (1) 09 Apr’07 Straw-necked Ibis (16) Sparks Reserve Box Hill 12 Apr ’07 Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (2) Foreshore Hastings 14 Apr ’07 Australian King Parrot (2) Wattle Park Burwood 20 Apr ’07 Australian Hobby (1) Cnr E.Boundary/Centre Rds East Bentleigh 25 Apr ’07 (first sighting in this street in 43 years)
9
Little Wattlebird
Do you have this species in your garden or a park near you? MELBOCA is examining the spread of the Little Wattlebird from the inner-city, coastal areas to the outer suburbs of Melbourne. MELBOCA welcomes your reports. Information required: Observers Name, Address, Date of Record, Location of sighting, ie. Street, Suburb, Post Code, Melway Ref, Number of birds optional. How long have you noticed this species in your area. Eg. 1983 Forward info to BOCA PO Box 185 Nunawading 3131 or Email: [email protected]
Melbourne suburbs recorded so far where Little Wattlebirds have been observed. Is your suburb listed?
Balwyn Doncaster East Langwarrin South Melbourne Balwyn Nth Gembrook Lower Plenty South Yarra Blackburn Glen Iris Mont Albert Nth Surrey Hills Burwood Glen Waverley Mount Waverley Viewbank Canterbury Greensborough Newport Williamstown Carlton North Hawthorn East Patterson Lakes Clifton Hill Ivanhoe Richmond Doncaster Kew St Kilda
Please note that the above records cover the area within 60km of the Melbourne GPO. Refer to Melway Street Directory, Pages 1 & 2. Graeme Hosken, Recorder
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Sex life of Swans on Albert Park Lake Between March and October 2007 a research team
from the University of Melbourne’s Zoology
Department, led by Dr Raoul Mulder, will be carrying
out detailed research on the promiscuous mating
habits of Black Swans. The research involves recording
mating behaviour by means of a miniaturised
electronic tracking system that works much like the
way toll bridges detect e-tags in cars. ‘Decoder’ units
fitted to females act like toll-bridges, detecting
microchips attached to the male’s tail, registering the
male’s identity, as well as the time of copulation.
There are almost 300 Swans on the lake, so the
researchers would be very grateful for any assistance
with capturing and measuring of Swans from
interested members. If you would like to participate in
the research as a volunteer, please contact Raoul via
email: [email protected] or by telephone
03 8344 6245 (office) or 0410 412 825 (mobile).
Dr Raoul Mulder will be a Guest Speaker at a future
MELBOCA Meeting where he will be talking about the
Swan Project.
Little Wattlebird It is the third day of March 2007 and I am watching a
Little Wattlebird feeding from the blossom on our
cherry plum tree. The tree has been without leaves for
some time because Brush-tailed Possums ate them,
and it has responded just as it does after losing its
leaves naturally in winter! Although the flowers are
smaller than usual because of the continuing dry
weather, they no doubt provide some welcome
sustenance for honey-eating birds.
Virgil Hubregtse, Notting Hill
J. Rogers
10
Coach Tours
Advance notice - spring Coach Tours Booking details in the August issue of The Bird Observer
Bailieston Area Sat 8 September 2007
Birding with Fred Smith
Maryborough Area Sat 13 October 2007
Leader: Garry Cheers
Wonthaggi Area Sat 10 November 2007
Leader to be advised
Editor’s note:
The Phillip Island Coach Trip Report which appeared
in The Melbirdian No. 54, April 2007, was written by
Christine Shelley, and the last venue for the day was
Fishers Wetlands, not Oswin Roberts Reserve as stated.
Bus Trip to Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula It was on an overcast morning on Saturday 14 April, that a full busload set off from the Arts Centre under the astute leadership of Fred Smith, prepared for a rewarding day’s birding on the Bellarine Peninsula. Though the sky was overcast, it held no real threat of much rain, particularly, as we were to find out, on the drought-effected peninsula. First stop was the Balyang Sanctuary on the banks of the mighty Barwon River. Those early off the bus were rewarded with views of a single Nankeen Night Heron roosting on the river’s edge. Several Darters were also roosting along the river, and at least three Darters were nesting along the banks. We were further treated to a sighting of a male Darter feeding three offspring. The next two stops, Belmont Common and Hospital Swamps are usually able to produce some worthwhile wetland species, but due to the drought, both are bone dry and only provided Purple Swamphen as a wetland bird. A single Crested Shrike-tit was sighted at Belmont Common and a lone Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater was the highlight of Hospital Swamps. It was then on to Tait Point at Lake Connewarre. Here we had great views of a Common Greenshank considerately positioning itself on a jetty. Two distant Royal Spoonbills seemed brilliantly white next to an Australian White Ibis. A Black-shouldered Kite was perched in the crown of a tree, and was joined by a pair of Red-rumped Parrots. As the bus was leaving, a stunning Caspian Tern was seen in flight. It was then on to Black Rocks Beach. The first major highlight of the day came in a paddock on Black Rock Road where 24 Banded Lapwings were present.
On a previous visit in this area a couple of years ago there were eight in a neighbouring paddock, but 24 was certainly the largest single population most of us had seen. Further down the road to the beach, a Whistling Kite kindly perched itself on a fencepost affording all of us excellent views. Then down to the beach where we saw Singing Honeyeaters, a Ruddy Turnstone in its stunning breeding plumage and a couple of Red-capped Plovers darting around in the shallows. Lunchtime was spent by the mouth of the Barwon River. Some nearby eucalypts were flowering and Purple-crowned Lorikeets were spotted here. Point Lonsdale Lighthouse was our next port of call and we all took in the marvelous views across The Rip to Point Nepean. A Nankeen Kestrel was roosting on top of a flagpole. Several Australasian Gannets flew by out to sea. On exposed rocks we sighted Black-faced Cormorants, Pacific Gulls and we managed to turn a few of the ubiquitous Silver Gulls into Crested Terns. Then it was on to the nearby Lake Victoria (part of the Lonsdale Lakes State Nature Reserve) and the other major sighting of the day. We all shared excellent views of 15 Hooded Plovers, of which eleven were adults and four juveniles. Most of us had only previously seen this species singly or in pairs, so to see this number was a treat. A single Banded Stilt was a further highlight at this stop. Then it was off to Lake Lorne, Drysdale, the final stop of the trip before heading home. Unfortunately, this lake is at the lowest level I had seen from previous visits. We had views of Black-fronted Dotterel, Chestnut Teal and Black-winged Stilt. The bird count was halted when a Fan-tailed Cuckoo perched in a nearby shrub, and became our 79th bird of the trip—not a bad day’s work! Also of interest was that all cormorant species residing in Australia, were sighted on this trip throughout the day. Not a bad effort! We had the odd spot of rain during the day, but certainly nothing of any consequence in an area that is crying out for plenty—and soon! A great day, beautifully organised by the MELBOCA Committee and superbly led by Fred Smith, and not to forget Diane Tweeddale’s always-entertaining bird count. There won’t be any coach trips over winter, but there are three in the pipeline for spring. I suggest you book early!
Martin Dwelly
Deadline
Please submit articles for the August edition of The Melbirdian by 1 July 2007. Send to Jenny: [email protected] or post to PO Box 185, Nunawading Vic 3131